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Melvin Seals Live at Avalon Ballroom on 2003-01-25

by Melvin Seals

Publication date: 2003-01-25 ( check for other copies)

Topics: Soul, R&B, Jazz

Collection: MelvinSeals

Band/Artist: Melvin Seals

Set 1: Carpenter, Take your Clothes Off, What's the Uglyest, Summer Jam, Watermelon

Set 2: Cosmic Debris, Dark Star*, Chamelion, Advanced Romance, That's What Love, Hey Joe, Slime

Notes

Billed as "The Avalon Allstars"

Line up:
Melvin Seals (Keys & Vocals) [Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals Melting Pot]
Napoleon Murphy Brock (Sax, Flute, Vocals) - [Frank Zappa Band, Project Object]
Ike Willis (Guitar & Vocals) [Frank Zappa Band, Project Object]
Tal Morris (Guitar) [Big E, Alan Hertz and Friends]
Dennis Smith (Bass) [Melvin Seals Band]
Dave Roda (Drums).[Melvin Seals Band; Fainting Goats]
* with Jerry Brown on vocals (Shady Groove)

Source - "The Spanish Armada" (credit for the moniker to Jimmy Stefiel)- multi-track super rig:

AKG 414 > Lunatec V3 > Benchmark Audio AD2K+ > RME Hammerfall Multiface

Schoeps mk4v capsules > KC-5 (actives) > CMC6 > Lunatec V2 > RME Hammerfall Multiface

Neumann SKM140 > LC3 KA (actives)> Lunatec V2 > RME Hammerfall Multiface

SBD Main (analog XLR) > Lucid 2496 > Tascam DA-P1 > RME Hammerfall Multiface

RME Hammerfall Multiface > Laptop > Samplitude Studio V6

Mic Placements:

AKG C414 B-TL II - Omni > ORTF Split 12' on stage 24" in and 16" up placed in front of the monitiors (Napi on left and Ike on right) to the left & right of the drum kit

Schoeps CMC6/MK4V's > ORTF on the stage 6' in from lip - DFC 12" up

Neumann SKM 140's > directly in front of each stack

Recorded by "Super Dave" Haaf and Larry Narachi "Taperachi"

Special Thanks to Larry for the lift, and kickin down the killer analog Schoeps > V2 source!

Samplitude Studio 6.0 Mixdown > CD Wave Splits > Soundforge V5.0 Fades >

Audio CD's: Feurio V1.63> Plextor 48/24/48A

SHN Files: MKWact > SHN (seek tables appended) > Feurio V1.63 > Plextor 48/24/48A

Remastered by Larry Narachi and "Super Dave" Haaf

Mastering notes:
Mostly Schoeps/AKGs mixed with SBD. A little emphasis was placed on the files with EQ (Samplitude Studio)

SHN's were upgraded to FLAC's before uploading (mkwACT > WAV > EasyFlac > FLAC16 [8]), no audio was changed.

Addeddate: 2006-02-23 13:40:29

Discs: 2

Has_mp3: 1

Identifier: aastars2003-01-25.flac16

Location: San Francisco, CA

Shndiscs: 2

Source: The Spanish Armada

Taped by: Larry Narachi and Super Dave Haaf

Type: sound

Venue: Avalon Ballroom

Year: 2003

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Reviews

Reviewer: WavieDavie - - May 16, 2011
Subject: Six Stars

WOW!!! Freakin' Ear Candy. I wish Frank Zappa was available here. Why no FRANK, WHY?!? This is some great music. They do Jerry better than Jerry. Check it out Deadfreaks.

Reviewer: animalslikeearthquakes - - November 29, 2010
Subject: JUST DOWNLOAD IT!!!

The only reason I'm only giving this one five stars because I'm not allowed to give it 5000 stars. If I could, I would.

This is an AMAZING recording of an even more AMAZING performance. BLISTERING work from the first note to the last. The first two Zappa tunes are brilliant, funky renditions with Napoleon Murphy Brock delivering solid vocals as usual. Summer Jam is INCREDIBLE!!!

Listening to this show I am reminded of all the reasons I love music. Anyone who cares anything at all about good music owes it to themselves to download this immediately.

Reviewer: nigeldavahah - - November 27, 2010
Subject: Nice setlist

super download

Reviewer: dave r - - May 4, 2009
Subject: credit where credit is due

It's a little late in the game to be doing this,
but to clarify ; the drummer on this recording is
Dave Roda not Stephen Hund.
I played the first three or four Avalon Allstars shows and they were among the most exiting of my career.Unfortunately there was a mix-up with the posters that night.
To later be replaced by John Mollo is humbling to say the least.
Surely no one cares, just setting the record straight.
I hope everyone continues to listen to and enjoy this recording.
Peace.

Reviewer: jbtfan12 - - September 6, 2008
Subject: amazingness personified.

this show is incredible, id never really heard much melvin seals prior to this week, and this show is now one of my all-time favorites, ranking with some phish and dead shows. saying alot for someone i hadnt heard of till 3-4 days ago.

Reviewer: Brad Leblanc - - June 27, 2007
Subject: @ JGroover

@ JGroover: the info file does correctly list this as an Avalon Allstars show.

EDIT: I understand, but it's difficult to justify a whole new artist collection for a single recording. I updated the metadata on the MP3/Ogg's so that if you download them they will now say "Avalon Allstars" as the artist automatically.

Reviewer: JGroover - - June 27, 2007
Subject: Thanks Brad

I was just thinking it would be easier to find that way? No biggie, I found it (and love it).

Reviewer: lazylostmoon - - July 9, 2006
Subject: Dark Star

outstanding 21st century Dark Star.
35 (or so) years later - "shall we go..."
Melvin does a great job bringin it home.

Reviewer: yippierb - - July 8, 2006
Subject: It's a Keeper

...what a great funky band. Zappa and Garcia alumns.
It is funny that despite the fine playing here how much the stellar guitar work of Jerry and Frank is missed. JG and FZ were/are admired and emulated for a reason. They were one of a kind and could control a vibe. That said this is good stuff. Well worth the download and repeated listening.

Reviewer: Leshtricity - - June 10, 2006
Subject: Stellar perfromance...

All of the shows of MS on the archive are amazing. Reminds me so much of JGB it brought tears to my eyes at one point...

Please come to sunny Florida... ;/

Reviewer: zappaplayszappa1 - - June 7, 2006
Subject: dont pass this up

This is a wonderful recording. The playing is excellent. Do not pass this up. Wow is all I can further say.

Reviewer: NoyoWharfRat - - May 18, 2006
Subject: Melvin @ Avalon 01.25.03

The last time I saw MS was with Jemimah Puddleduck/Mark Karan's Bud's at the Tower Theater in S.F. New Year's 12.31.03? This show greatly increases my appreciation of his, and the rest of the crew's talents.

-Doc

Reviewer: raindogg - - March 7, 2006
Subject: You guys know how to do it right!

This show smokes, and thanks very much to the dedicated tapers. Sounds like a crystal champagne glass of hammond B3 goodness!!!

Reviewer: PietyMA - - March 7, 2006
Subject: Just Download it!

See Title.

Reviewer: crazymona - - March 5, 2006
Subject: freak out to the love

"that's what love will make you do" - thank you Melvin Seals...

Reviewer: Purple Gel - - March 2, 2006
Subject: Nice Show

This is a very nice show. I especially like that they do a fairly obscure Zappa song, "what's the ugliest part of your body?"

Reviewer: markpj - - February 28, 2006
Subject: allstars

they are the dream band...great sound and some funky jams

Reviewer: tac1214 - - February 26, 2006
Subject: download this!!!

this is an awesome show!i've had this since shortly after it's performance and it's still one of my most favorite show.a must have.